Michelle Obama visits Naval Academy

First lady Michelle Obama

Baltimore Sun photo by Amy Davis

On the steps of Bancroft Hall, First Lady Michelle Obama, left, with U.S. Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus, center, and Commandant of Midshipmen, Capt. Bob Clark, right, review midshipmen at the United States Naval Academy.

On the steps of Bancroft Hall, First Lady Michelle Obama, left, with U.S. Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus, center, and Commandant of Midshipmen, Capt. Bob Clark, right, review midshipmen at the United States Naval Academy. (Baltimore Sun photo by Amy Davis)

First lady Michelle Obama told the Naval Academy's 4,000 midshipmen that she and the president would honor their sacrifice by making sure the country takes care of them.

"You have a president and a first lady who will keep working to make sure that this country serves you as well as you serve us," Michelle Obama said during brief remarks before sharing lunch with midshipmen.

The first lady was in Annapolis for a State House ceremony where Gov. Martin O'Malley signed into law a bill that aims to make it easier for veterans to transition into civilian life.

Before the ceremony, the first lady met with three service members who will soon leave the Navy for the civilian workforce. She chatted quietly with two physical therapists and a laboratory technician as she toured the Orthopedic and Sports Medicine Clinic in the Brigade Medical Unit.

All three service members could benefit from the new law, which expedites the processing of 70 different professional licensing for veterans. The law also spells out how and when to give college credit for military education and experience and helps military spouses more quickly get professional licenses in Maryland.

As her motorcade traveled from the Navy Academy to the Maryland State House, where that bill was about to be signed into law, on-lookers waved a sign welcoming Michelle Obama to Annapolis.

The first lady joked about her motorcade causing traffic problems. "I wish I could stay and have ice cream and crab cakes," the she said during the bill signing ceremony. "But I would clog up the city."